Mary Teach Us Compassion

	Mary Teach Us Compassion   Mary leads us constantly. She knows all forms of suffering. She wants to strengthen us, console us and help us. (…) Mary is compassion itself, because she was next to her Son when he suffered and she suffered with him. (…) It is important for us to ask Mary, who suffered and commiserated with Jesus at the foot of the cross, to teach us compassion. We must ask this of Mary because it is a mystery of motherhood. She actually gives birth to us through suffering. We can see that this cross is painful, but also joyful. It transforms us in God's love. Lord Jesus, help us to understand this mystery. It is simply incomprehensible for us to grasp with our human reason; but with love and grace, you help us understand, you save and transform us.
	Pierre Goursat (1914-1991), Founder of the Community of the Emmanuel (France, 1972). Taken from his meditations, at the Inter-Assembly Day, March 13, 1976, and the Community Weekend on September 20, 1981